Grand Rapids board members hurt fire safety

EDITOR: In about a month we will vote again in Grand Rapids. It will be an important election. I had some new candidates and one incumbent stop by my house. A friend of mine stopped by to tell me some disturbing news about our town board; so I checked this out for myself on the Internet. There I found in the town's own minutes two board members who vote "no" continuously on any issue involving the fire department. This is starting to affect public safety.

Long before I was fire chief myself, the fire department has had a long history of fundraising, with many of the vehicles and equipment having been purchased with donated money. Now I learn that these two town board members have decided to let several fire trucks go into disrepair rather than pay to have the vehicles properly maintained. Comments have been made that indicate the fire department should "put the truck out of service" and rely on mutual aid instead.

Each fire truck the township has obtained was chosen to serve a specific purpose, and all of them need to be available for emergency calls. I don't think any of us are willing to watch as our house burns down while waiting for another community to respond.

I find this a slap in the face to everyone who donated money and all the hard work that went into the fundraising efforts of firefighters, their families and friends over the past 50 years! These particular board members weren't even around when this money was raised. In public, they claim to support the fire department and the EMTs, but when it's time to take care of business, they repeatedly vote "no."

I will only support board members who support our community, who support our fire and police departments and who make certain their equipment is fit to protect our property and our citizens. I encourage every citizen of Grand Rapids to take a good look at who is running for office this year and make an informed decision on those who truly act to protect you, your properties and your loved ones.

Dean Maccombs,

town of Grand Rapids

The author is a former Grand Rapids Fire Chief.

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